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Norton to Speak at Two Events Commemorating Veterans Day, This Weekend

Nov 10, 2018

Press Release

Introduces Resolution Honoring D.C. Veterans, Who Served Despite Being Denied a Vote and Full Home Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C.—This weekend, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at two Veterans Day events to honor District of Columbia veterans. Norton also introduced a resolution recognizing D.C.’s 30,000 veterans and their families, condemning the denial of voting rights in Congress and full home rule for D.C. veterans and their families, and calling for statehood for the District to make D.C. veterans and other residents whole.

On Sunday, November 11, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., at the D.C. War Memorial, Norton will speak at a ceremony, hosted by the D.C. National Guard and the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of D.C., to honor the 499 service members from D.C. who gave their lives during World War I and celebrate the centennial of Armistice Day. A national minute of silence and the tolling of the “Bells of Peace” at 11:00 a.m. will mark the centennial of the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month in 1918, when the armistice took effect. Norton successfully fought congressional attempts to redesignate the D.C. War Memorial as the national World War I memorial, while also working to create a national World War I memorial at Pershing Park.

On Monday, November 12, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., at 1309 Wallach Pl. NW, Norton will speak at a ceremony to honor 89-year-old Korean War Veteran Thomas Pressley, who is returning to his home after the Purple Heart Homes partnered with the Home Depot Foundation and the National League of Cities to rehabilitate his house, which had been condemned. Pressley’s cause was aided by Metropolitan Police Department Officer Juanita Eccles, who assisted Pressley when he arrived at D.C.’s Third District station seeking help. Officer Eccles worked to connect Pressley with Home Depot and Purple Heart Homes, which did the needed repairs to rehabilitate his home.

Norton’s full Veterans Day resolution is below.

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the denial of full voting rights in Congress for veterans and their families who are District of Columbia residents.

Whereas, on November 11, our Nation observes Veterans Day, a Federal holiday commemorating the men and women who served and sacrificed for their country;

Whereas the service and sacrifice of all American veterans must be recognized;

Whereas the service of approximately 30,000 residents of the District of Columbia in the Armed Forces is unparalleled because they served without full voting rights in Congress;

Whereas residents of the District of Columbia fought to create the United States under the Revolutionary War slogan “no taxation without representation”, and have served in every war engaged by the United States since;

Whereas 635 District of Columbia residents were casualties of World War I, a casualty figure greater than that observed by 3 different States during the War;

Whereas 3,575 District of Columbia residents were casualties of World War II, a casualty figure greater than that observed by 4 different States during the War;

Whereas 547 District of Columbia residents were casualties of the Korean War, a casualty figure greater than that observed by 8 different States during the War;

Whereas 243 District of Columbia residents were casualties of the Vietnam War, a casualty figure greater than that observed by 10 different States during the War;

Whereas almost 200,000 District of Columbia residents have served in the military since World War I;

Whereas residents of the District of Columbia, including active duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, and veterans, continue to be denied full voting rights in the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

Whereas H.R. 1291, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, would grant full and equal voting rights as well as democratic control over local affairs to the District of Columbia by making it the 51st State: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the service of all District of Columbia veterans, past and present, condemns the denial of voting rights in Congress and full home rule for veterans and their families who are District of Columbia residents, and calls for statehood for the District of Columbia.